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Razer’s new Chroma docks transform gaming laptops into powerful workstations

Chuong Nguyen
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If you want to convert your gaming laptop into a desktop, Razer’s latest docking accessories do the trick while adding some bling to an otherwise muted desk setup by way of the company’s signature Chroma RGB lighting. Razer has two new docks, which the company says will work with most notebooks — including Apple’s new M1-powered MacBook Pro.

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The Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma functions in a similar manner to other Thunderbolt desktop docks on the market. Like its counterparts, Razer’s offering adds more connectivity options — the company boasted that this dock adds a 10-port hub to your desk setup — in a matte black aluminum enclosure that’s been a hallmark of Razer’s notebook designs.

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Given that most people are working, studying, and gaming from home with the pandemic still raging, the Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma may be a sound investment to get more power and functionality out of your notebook. The 10 ports include four Thunderbolt 4 over USB-C ports (three downstream and one upstream), an Ethernet jack, three USB-A ports, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. A separate barrel-shaped power connector delivers up to 90 watts of power output to charge your notebook.

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With a 40 Gbps data transfer rate, the ports will allow you to connect two 4K monitors at 60Hz or expand your desk setup with a whopping 8K display at 30Hz. Power users will also be able to leverage the Thunderbolt 4 connectivity to add an eGPU, like the Razer Core v2, to gain additional graphics performance when docked at their desk.

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The Laptop Stand Chroma v2 not only raises your laptop to an ergonomic level, but it also adds a four-port hub and uses the same matte black aluminum design. This one swaps the Thunderbolt 4 ports from the Thunderbolt dock for two USB-C ports — one of which is used to connect to a USB-C laptop and the other to connect to a 100W power supply — two USB-A ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port. Razer says that the Laptop Stand Chroma v2 also supports a dual-display setup if you want to connect your laptop to external screens.

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The stand weighs 1.3 pounds and measures 8.4 x 19.5 x 2.9 inches on your desk, while the Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma weighs in at 0.75 pounds. Razer claimed that both docks will work with Windows 10 PCs with Thunderbolt 4 ports, Mac systems with M1 processors, or older Mac systems with Thunderbolt 3 ports running on MacOS 11.1 Big Sur or later. Both docking accessories support Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting — though Razer Synapse won’t work on Mac machines — so you’ll get a very cohesive look if you’re also a gamer on a Razer Blade laptop. The Thunderbolt 4 dock is priced at $329, while the laptop stand is a cheaper at $149. Both products are available to pre-order through Razer’s website.

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Chuong Nguyen
Chuong Nguyen
Computing Writer
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
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